Marcus

The Basics—

• Place of Birth: Italy
• Current Residence: Volterra, Italy (Twilight, pg.340)
• Status: Vampire, Volturi (Twilight, pg. 340)
• Date of Transformation: Uncertain; over 3,000 years ago (New Moon, pg. 429)
• Source of Transformation: Unknown

Physical Appearance—

• Hair Color: Black (New Moon, pg. 469)
• Eye Color: Vampire Red (though darker red, given his old age)
• Height: 6’1
• Other: Marcus, like all vampires, has very pale skin-- except that his is almost translucent, presumably because of precisely how old he is, and how very long he's been a vampire. It’s described in New Moon as looking something like onion skin. His hair is very long and jet black. When he moves, it appears as if he is floating.

Associations—

• Family: Caius, Aro and the rest of the Volturi (Twilight, pg. 340)
• Significant Other: Didyme, now deceased
• Occupation: One of the three leaders of the Volturi (Twilight, pg. 340)

Personality/Characteristics—

• Special Abilities/Talents: He can see relationships-- the dynamics that exist between two or more people. (New Moon, pg. 471)
• Description: Marcus is a one of the leading members of the Volturi. He always appears to be very indifferent to the goings-on around him. Since his mate was killed, he's become little more than the shell of a man, barely speaking or contributing to conversation, often appearing joyless and abnormally nonchalant. His talent is very useful in battle since he can see where the loyalties lie with his enemies, allowing him (and thereby all the Volturi) to know who would die for one and another, who would not, and where their weaknesses lie.

Personal History—

Marcus and the other two chief members of the Volturi, Aro and Caius, rose to power throughout the ages in Italy. He and the Volturi are both feared and respected throughout the vampire world (New Moon, pg. 19) as the guardians of the single most important rule: keep the existence of vampires secret. Marcus is also respected by the human world, as they believe he was a holy priest who drove all the vampires and other monsters out of Volterra (New Moon, pg. 440-441). This legend developed out of the fact that the Volturi do not hunt or permit other vampires to hunt, in or around Volterra. They have their army of vampire minions bring them their prey from afar (New Moon, pg.431).

Marcus met Carlisle Cullen in 1720 after Carlisle discovered the Volturi in Italy. Like most vampires, Marcus cannot understand the "vegetarian" lifestyle and tries to convert him to the normal vampire diet. He has also made attempts to add Carlisle to their coven (Twilight, pg. 340), but has not succeeded.

Marcus has never recovered from losing his love and his mate (unknowingly, at the hands of Aro) and this accounts for his apathetic and callous ways. He is, however, intrigued by Carlisle's ability to keep his promise never to hunt humans, and votes to spare Edward’s life when Edward asks the Volturi to kill him (New Moon, pg. 434). Because Marcus sees relationships, he is fascinated by the strength of the bond between Edward and Alice as well as between Edward and Bella (New Moon, pg. 471). The Volturi decide to let Edward, Alice, and Bella go under the condition that they go through with their promise to turn Bella into a vampire. They vow to keep tabs on the Cullens until then. Marcus is generally the most uninterested in the Cullens and their powers, but again, only because of the trauma he endured in losing his mate.

Miscellaneous—

• Marcus has a national holiday named after him: St. Marcus day, during which the city of Volterra celebrates St. Marcus, a priest they believe drove all the vampires from Volterra (New Moon, 440-441). He and his legend inspired many paintings and works of art, namely by the artist "Solimena" (Twilight, pg.340).